Vertical Dominoes

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for vertically playing a matching figures game comprising a carrying box and cards having a front side and a back side, wherein the matching figures are displayed at the front side and the back side of the card may be used to display advertising matter. The carrying box ( 2 ) is used as a playing field and has a rectangular shape dimensions big enough to fit at least two parallel groups of cards and all the cards stacked-up.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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RELATED APPLICATIONS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to an apparatus and method for playing a matching figures game, and more specifically an apparatus and method to play a vertical matching figures game which is used as an advertisement and a teaching tool, is easy to carry and pick up, reduces the playing field area, and provides a challenging game.

2. Discussion of the Background

Different games consisting in matching figures have been known for years. One example is Dominoes which consist of matching figures, such as dots, wherein the players consciously or unconsciously utilize the basic four functions of Mathematics, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division.

Dominoes, is basically a gender neutral, mathematical, horizontal popular game played since ancient times. It is very popular worldwide and is played by persons of all walks of life. For example, countless Dominoes clubs are scattered throughout every country. Intra club, Interclub, National and International tournaments are held at least once a year.

The most popular dominoes' game played comprises a set of rectangular pieces (usually 28 in number). Each piece made of different materials such as wood, bones, vinyl, plastic and having one blank face and one face marked with pips or dots as mentioned before. The marked faces are divided into halves, each containing from 0 to 6 dots in every possible combination—0-0, 0-1, 1-1 and so on.

The game of dominoes is a very inexpensive, fun and competitive game. Players, usually in pairs forming a team, enjoy their leisure time competing with each other in a sane environment. U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,020 to discloses a playing card game, each having representations, simulations or replicas of a domino on it as a substitute for the usual domino block. However, when playing in a horizontal fashion “North-South”, “East-West” the playing field has to be at least enough to fit the arrangement of multiple dominoes cards. Therefore usually a table, as a playing field, is needed to play the game which for some people is a hassle, especially when traveling. When the game is played in a “blind” fashion, displacement of the card may occur because of the wind, player contact or just to move/pick up the game from one location to another without mixing up the cards order.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and method to play a game of matching figures, such as dominoes, and overcome the disadvantages mentioned above. The present card game is a substantially vertical figures matching game with a limited playing field which is easy to carry, shuffle, and pick up and is also more challenging than conventional matching figures games, such as dominoes, and overcomes the disadvantages of the Prior Art while providing advertisement for different brands or companies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easy to travel dominoes' game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cards game as a teaching tool for kids.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a more challenging game of matching figures wherein the players have to remember all the cards played.

The invention itself, both as to its configuration and its mode of operation will be best understood, and additional objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The Applicant hereby asserts, that the disclosure of the present application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.

Further, the purpose of the accompanying abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated herein constitute part of the specifications and illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view of the cards.

FIG. 2 is a view of the back side of the card with advertisement.

FIG. 3 is a view of the front side of the card with matching figures.

FIG. 4 a is an isometric view of the carrying box.

FIG. 4 b is a view of an arrangement of the carrying box cover.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of another carrying box.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the carrying box with cards.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the carrying box with separation wall and cards.

FIG. 7 a shows the carrying box side view of the cut section from FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 shows the preferred card arrangement to play the game.

FIG. 9 shows the position of the first card at the carrying box with separation wall.

FIG. 10 shows the position of the first card at the carrying box without separation wall.

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement of cards inside the carrying box.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the card arrangement.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the card and different matching figures

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises a card (1) having a front side (1 b) and a back side (1 a), wherein the back side (1 a) of the card (1) may be used to display advertising matter (4) providing an involuntary dynamic Promotional tool wherein the product advertisements are repeatedly shown every time the player makes a move or the cards are shuffled. The front side (1 b) has at least a matching figure (5) on each half of the card as presented in FIGS. 1-3.

In the preferred embodiment the matching figures (5) are dots as in the game of dominoes. The game is played with two, three or four players, on an individual basis or in pairs. As in conventional dominoes, seven dominoes cards are dealt. The game begins when the player with the highest double number, usually double six, places the card in the center of the box. Subsequent games are begun by the previous winner, placing the card of his choice in the center of a carrying box (2).

The playing field for the present card game is limited by a carrying box (2). The carrying box (2) provides protection to the card while limiting the playing field by its shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4-5, the carrying box (2) has a rectangular shape comprising a cover (2 a) and a base (2 b). The carrying box′ (2) dimensions have to be big enough to fit at least two parallel groups of cards and all the cards stacked-up, at the inner space of said carrying box (2) as shown in FIG. 7. The material of the carrying box (2) may be a selection between wood, plastic, paper or any other material capable of withstanding and protecting the cards.

Additional to the protection of the cards (1), the carrying box (2) makes easier the pick up of the game after the game is completed or even in case players wanted to move from one location to another to continue the game. As part of the assembling of the playing field the removable carrying box (2) cover (2 a) is placed underneath the base (2 b) as show in FIG. 4 b. Another embodiment for the carrying box (2) is a rectangular shaped box, as shown in FIG. 5, comprising sliding channels (2 f) for the cover (2 a) at the top of the base (2 b). In this embodiment the base (2 b) also limits the playing field. Different type of carrying boxes can be provided as long as it protects, hold the cards inside and are easy to pick up. Both, the cover and the base are used to display advertising matter (5) which may be added to the box structure by different processes such as stamping, molding or any other process.

The carrying box (2) may be provided with a divisional wall (2 c) which is removable or integrally formed with the base (2 b). The divisional wall is fastened by locking means, such as grooves, and divides said base (2 a) in halves. The divisional wall (2 c) extends perpendicular to the base inner bottom surface. The divisional wall (2 c) is close but not in contact with the bottom wall of the carrying box (2) leaving a small space (2 f) between these two parts enough to fit at least one of the cards.

After the playing field is set up the game starts. The player with the highest matching card figures (5) combination, for example the double six if the game is dominoes of 28 cards, places the card inside and at the middle of the carrying box (2). If the carrying box (2) has an integrally made divisional wall (2 c) the card is placed in the middle by inserting the card between the divisional wall (2 c) and the inner bottom portion of the carrying box (2). In case the carrying box (2) has a removable divisional wall (2 c) the card is placed first and then the divisional wall (2 c) is inserted through grooves (2 d). After placing the first card, all subsequent plays will consist in matching the figure (5) at farthest distance from the center of the carrying box (2) with a player's card as shown in FIG. 8. The designated card is placed inside the selected box half with the matching number closest to the mid-point of the box (2) and the new unmatched number to the extreme right or extreme left of the midline as show in FIGS. 9-11. As mentioned before two groups of cards are created wherein the card player who discards first all his card dominos is the winner. In the event that the game can no longer proceed because the matching figures are identical at both ends and no other player has a matching figure (5), the game is said to be blocked and the winner will be the player or pair of players with the least points depending of the value assigned to the matching figures (5). The total points made by the winning player or pair of players will be the sum of all points left unplayed.

The use of dots as matching figures (5) is not intended to limit the scope of the invention but just to provide an illustration. For example, as shown in FIG. 13 the matching figures (5) may be a superhero, animal or object which has an assigned value. The use of these figures will make the game more attractive to kids and at the same time is a powerful tool to teach kids the animal kingdom, the name of objects, and develop memory and mathematical skills.

While the invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by this invention as defined in the following claims and their legal equivalents. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

All of the patents, patent applications, and publications recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All, or substantially all, the components disclosed in such patents may be used in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof. The details in the patents, patent applications, and publications incorporated by reference herein may be considered to be incorporable at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentable distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art. 

1. A card game, comprising: a card deck, each card having a front and back side, a box, having a base and a cover wherein said box is shaped to fit substantially two card groups from said card deck perpendicular to the base and parallel to each other.
 2. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein the matching figures are selected from a group of dots, animals or cartoons.
 3. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein said front side is divided in halves and each half displays at least a matching figure.
 4. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein said back side displaying advertising matter.
 5. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein said box displays advertising matter.
 6. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein said base has channels for sliding the cover.
 7. A card game as described in claim 1, wherein said base has at least a locking mean for fastening a separator wall located at the center of said base and between at least two set of cards.
 8. A method to play a card game comprising, a card deck, each card having a front and back side wherein said front side is divided in halves, each half displaying at least a matching figure; a box having a base and a cover wherein said box is shaped to fit substantially two card groups from said card deck parallel and beside to each other; a pre-selected number of players, wherein a first card is placed at the center of said box after said card deck is shuffled and distributed between players, and wherein the next cards substantially covers half of the card at the box center.
 9. A method to play a card game as described in claim 8, wherein two group of cards are formed by matching figures and placing the matching figure card over the matched card, wherein the figure which matches the card beneath is closer to the middle section of the box.
 10. A method to play a card game as described in claim 8, wherein said card back side is used for advertisement.
 11. A method to play a card game as described in claim 8, wherein said box is use for advertisement. 